A prospective study of sublingual misoprostol following mifepristone for second trimester termination of pregnancy

Abstract

Objectives: This prospective study was done to evaluate the effectiveness, acceptability and side effects of sublingual misoprostol for second trimester termination of pregnancy. Materials and Methods: This hospital based prospective study was conducted on 110 women for second trimester abortion from 12-20 weeks during 2012-13.The women enrolled received 200 mg mifepristone, than sublingual misoprostol 400 microgram 3 hourly for 5 doses after 48 hours. The results were expressed in terms of induction abortion interval, dosage, success rate, acceptability and side effects. Results: The mean induction –abortion interval was shorter in multigravida i.e. 3.84 ± 0.866 hours as compare to primigravida i.e. 4.54 ± 1.79 hours. Also the mean induction-abortion interval was shorter in women with period of gestation 12-16 weeks i.e. 3.98 ± 1.055 hours as compare with gestational age 17-20 weeks with induction-abortion abortion interval of 4.05 ± 1.592 hours ( p=0.08, NS). The mean dose of misoprostol was lesser in multigravida i.e. 670.0 ± 189.8 µg as compare to primigravida i.e. 739.4 ± 226.3µg (p=0.2, NS). The mean dose of misoprostol required was same irrespective of gestational age i.e. 693.3 ± 178.9 µg for gestational age 12-16 weeks and 676.9 ± 244.2 µg for gestational age 17-20 weeks (p=0.07, NS). Hundred (100%) successful abortion rate was achieved with only 0.91% women required evacuation. The acceptability was 52.73%. The side effect observed was pain abdomen (26.4%), nausea/vomiting (34.5%), headache (14.5%), diarrhoea (12.7%) and fever (12.7%). Conclusion: From present study we conclude that sublingual misoprostol following mifepristone is highly efficacious method of second trimester abortion.

Keywords

• sublingual misoprostol
• second trimester abortion